What’s the current situation with the Labour Market in Scotland? How many people are employed?
A release on the Scottish Government website in January 2018 gave the following information:
The number of people in employment increased by 7,000 over the quarter with 2,662,000 people in employment in Scotland.
Labour Market Statistics released by the ONS for September to November 2017 show:
- Scotland’s employment rate increased over the year to 75.0% but decreased by 0.2 percentage points over the quarter.
- 112,000 people were unemployed, with the unemployment rate at 4.0% below the UK rate of 4.3%.
- Over the quarter the inactivity rate increased by 0.2 percentage points to 21.7%.
- Over the year Scotland’s female employment rate increased to 72% higher than the UK rate of 70.8%.
- Over the year youth unemployment rate increased by 0.2 percentage points to 9.7% lower than the UK rate of 12.6%.
Minister for Employability and Training Jamie Hepburn said:
“These latest figures show 97,000 more people in employment compared to the pre-recession peak in Scotland’s economy and labour market, with rises in the numbers of people in work over the quarter and the year.
“It is also encouraging to see youth unemployment and female employment rates continuing to outperform the rest of the UK.
“The 2018/19 Draft Budget includes an extra £270 million of support for Scotland’s economy, including a new £150 million Building Scotland Fund to increase house building, commercial property and research and development, and £340 million to capitalise a Scottish National Investment Bank.”
What is the current Labour Market situation in Perth & Kinross?
| Employment and unemployment (Oct 2016-Sep 2017) | ||||
| Perth And Kinross | Perth And Kinross | Scotland | Great Britain | |
| (Numbers) | (%) | (%) | (%) | |
| All People | ||||
| Economically Active† | 76,900 | 80.1 | 77.3 | 78.1 |
| In Employment† | 73,900 | 76.9 | 73.9 | 74.5 |
| Employees† | 61,900 | 66.7 | 64.9 | 63.6 |
| Self Employed† | 11,200 | 9.9 | 8.6 | 10.6 |
| Unemployed (Model-Based)§ | 2,500 | 3.2 | 4.3 | 4.5 |
| Males | ||||
| Economically Active† | 41,100 | 84.1 | 81.2 | 83.2 |
| In Employment† | 39,500 | 80.6 | 77.3 | 79.3 |
| Employees† | 32,300 | 68.8 | 65.5 | 64.9 |
| Self Employed† | 7,000 | 11.5 | 11.4 | 14.1 |
| Unemployed§ | 1,700 | 4.1 | 4.8 | 4.6 |
| Females | ||||
| Economically Active† | 35,700 | 76.2 | 73.5 | 73.1 |
| In Employment† | 34,500 | 73.3 | 70.7 | 69.8 |
| Employees† | 29,600 | 64.7 | 64.3 | 62.3 |
| Self Employed† | 4,200 | 8.4 | 6 | 7.1 |
| Unemployed§ | # | # | 3.8 | 4.4 |
Source: ONS annual population survey
# Sample size too small for reliable estimate (see definitions)
† - numbers are for those aged 16 and over, % are for those aged 16-64
§ - numbers and % are for those aged 16 and over. % is a proportion of economically active
The current picture in Perth & Kinross is positive, with the figures for employment higher than the Scottish national average and the UK average.
Are you an employer who’d like to work with us?
If you’re an employer in Perth & Kinross and you’d like to find out more about the Perth & Kinross ESF Employability Pipeline or Positive Futures! programmes (e.g. job brokering, wage subsidies, offering work experience, supporting job-seekers, volunteering opportunities), please email the ESF Programme Management Office on EuropeanSocialFundPMO@pkc.gov.uk.
